Lightweight antenna attachment structure

The present invention relates to lightweight antenna arrays and more particularly to an attachment mechanism for attaching a lightweight antenna array to a structure. In one embodiment, an antenna structure includes a platform having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; an antenna panel having a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient, and having first and second opposite ends; and a support structure mounting the panel to the platform. The support structure includes a first spacer element with a first height at the first end of the panel, and a second spacer element with a second height less than the first height between the first and second ends of the panel; a first adhesive layer adhering each spacer element to the platform; and a second adhesive layer adhering each spacer element to the antenna panel. A yield strength of the adhesive layers is less than a yield strength of the spacer elements.